Process and device for the output of electronic image signals, and a photographic copier

ABSTRACT

A process and device for the output of electronic image signals on light-sensitive recording material is disclosed. A two-dimensional, transmissive display element, in particular a liquid crystal display (LCD), is controlled by the image signals and the beam of at least one light source passes therethrough in the direction of the light-sensitive recording material. During video output, the display element is arranged so near to the recording material that a sharp picture is produced on the recording material without having to position additional focusing, optical means between the display element and the recording material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a process and a device for the outputof electronic imaging signals, in particular to a process for an outputof electronic imaging signals on a light-sensitive recording material ina photographic copying apparatus in which an image master of aphotographic film can be copied on light-sensitive recording material.In such system, a transmissive display element, in particular a liquidcrystal display (LCD), is controlled by the imaging signals, with a beamof light passing through the display element in the direction of thelight-sensitive recording material.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional photography based on silver halide film is increasinglyreplaced by electronic components both on the recording end, e.g. thecamera, and also during subsequent processing of the film. For example,modern cameras are capable of recording additional information, such asthe date the image was acquired, greeting messages and otherinformation, together with the image on the film inside the camera.Other types of film are provided with a magnetic recording layer onwhich information is recorded in the camera specifying how the filmshould be subsequently processed. A film of this type and acorresponding processing procedure is disclosed, for example, in U.S.Pat. No. 5,029,313.

Frequently, customers ask that additional information, such as greetingmessages, be printed on or next to the photographic prints after thefilm is processed. There is also increasing demand to print images inphotographic quality on photographic paper directly from an electronicimage source, e.g. a computer or a scanner.

More and more often, customers also request from photo finishersso-called index prints. A process to produce index prints is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,827. In this case, all images recorded on aphotographic film are also electronically scanned and electronicallymerged to form a picture which includes every image of the film. Otherrelevant information, such as an identification number of the film, thenumber of the image, the exposure date of the image, a motif text andthe like, are added to the individual images and the merged image isoutputted in form of an index print. This system has a disadvantage thatthe device for outputting of electronic imaging signals is relativelycomplex and has a large footprint.

Photographic photo finishing processes are divided into so-calledoffline index print systems and inline index print systems. In theso-called offline index print system, the index prints are outputted ona separate printer separately from the other photographic prints andthen added to the other pictures. An inline index print system, on theother hand, produces the index prints at the same time and with the samedevice as the individual prints of the photographic film. This devicecan therefore print conventional images optically on a copying materialas well as output electronic imaging signals on the same copyingmaterial. The inline index print system has the significant advantagethat the index prints are already properly associated with the images ofthe print order. Consequently, a sorting step is no longer required.

JP 6-19 106 A describes a device for the output of electronic imagingsignals on light-sensitive recording material. Image signals are heredisplayed on a display element and applied directly to the recordingmaterial.

DE 38 25 887 C2 describes a video printer for printing differentindividual images on a common output sheet. The last two referencesrelate to filly electronic systems which cannot be directly integratedwith a photographic copying device in which an image master of aphotographic film can be optically copied on light-sensitive material.

DE 41 13 594 A1 describes a device for printing leaflets which includesa retractable calibration test pattern.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a process and a devicecapable of outputting electronic imaging signals with a high, i.e.preferably photographic quality on a light-sensitive recording material,wherein the device is of simple construction and suitable to operate asan inline index print system.

The object is solved in that during an image output, the display elementcan be positioned so close to the recording material that a sharp imageis produced on the recording material, without the need to positionadditional optical focusing means between the display element and therecording material. Further, for an output of the imaging signals, thedisplay element can be positioned in the same optical beam path in whichan image master is also positioned during the copying operation of theimage master.

In one aspect of the invention, a transmissive display element iscontrolled by imaging signals and is irradiated with the beam of atleast one light source that passes through the display element in thedirection of the light-sensitive recording material. A particularlysuitable display element is a liquid crystal display. However, otherlight valve arrangements with transmission properties that can becontrolled pixel by pixel, can also be used. During image output, thedisplay element is located so close to the recording material that asharp image is produced on the recording material without the need foradditional optical focusing means between the display element and therecording material. The display element performs at least approximatelya contact exposure. The imaging signals are discrete signals, inparticular digitized signals.

The invention is particularly suited to retrofit photographic projectioncopiers to output electronic imaging signals of images that are composedof pixels. It is only necessary to add a transmissive display elementand to modify the electronic control means. In particular, the displayelement for the output of the electronic image is moved, in particulartilted, into an illuminating position. The copying device can then beswitched over from a conventional projection mode wherein a conventionalfilm master is copied on light-sensitive recording material (inparticular a color negative film master on a color negative recordingpaper) to a fully electronic mode wherein electronic imaging signals areoutputted to the color negative paper, and vice versa.

The display element can be inserted not only by tilting about a rotationaxis, but also, for example, by a linear translatory motion. With thismodification, on one hand, an existing light source of the conventionalprojection copying device can be used to produce a conventional copyand, on the other hand, the same light source can also illuminate thetransmissive display element to output the electronic imaging signal onthe light-sensitive recording material. Advantageously, the displaydevice is illuminated through a ground glass screen and a zoom objectivewhich is positioned between the light source and the display element.The zoom objective is applied in two ways: to provide a sharp projectionof a conventional copy master on the recording material, and also toilluminate the display element with a predetermined divergence. Apreferred display element is a liquid crystal display.

When a copier is retrofitted in this manner, the display element isadvantageously mechanically operatively connected with a conventionaltest negative which can be tilted into the illumination beam path ifrequired. The two components then take up a minimal amount of space.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that thedrawings are intended solely for purposes of illustration and not as adefinition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should bemade to the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals delineate similarelements throughout the several views:

Details and advantageous embodiments of the invention are described inthe dependent claims and will be explained in greater detail in thefollowing with reference to several embodiments and the drawings.

It is shown in:

FIG. 1 is a photographic minilab device;

FIG. 2 a copying station with an integrated imaging signal outputdevice;

FIG. 3 a cross-section through the copying station of FIG. 2 along theline III—III;

FIG. 4 a schematic diagram of the optics for illuminating a displaydevice;

FIG. 5 details of an exposure station;

FIG. 6 a block diagram of electronic components of an exposure device;and

FIGS. 7a, 7 b and 8 transfer functions of a liquid crystal arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a photographic minilab deviceadapted to perform a photographic finishing process essentiallyautomatically. The device includes all essential components required forproducing photographic prints. The device includes a film developingsection 1, a photographic copying station 2 and a paper developingsection 3. An exposed film 10 to be developed is conveyed to the filmdeveloping section 1. This section provides developer reservoirs 4 fordeveloping the film. After development, the film 10 passes anintermediates rinse reservoir 5, a reservoir 6 for bleach-hardening andseveral reservoirs 7 for a final rinse. The film 10 is subsequentlydried with warm air in a dryer 8. A film transfer station 9 conveys thedeveloped film 10 to the copying station 2. An intermediates storagedevice 19 evens out different film transport speeds between the filmdeveloping section 1 and the copying station 2. Individual films 24 thatare already developed, can also be conveyed to the copying device 2directly at the film transfer station 9.

In the copying station 2, the film 10 and 24, respectively, passesthrough a copying stage 12. In the copying station 2, the film is firstelectronically scanned pixel by pixel with a scanner 28, and the copyingdata are calculated. The film is subsequently transported in the reversedirection through the copying station 2. Each individual image is thencopied on photographic paper 29 according to the calculated copyingdata. An illuminator 11 illuminates the film 10, an objective 21 forms asharp image of a copy master to be copied on a paper stage 13. Thephotographic color negative paper 29 is unwound from one of the twopaper cassettes 14 or 15 and passes through the paper stage 13. Theobjective 21 is secured to a housing section 22 of the copying station 2with a bayonet lock 23. The objective 21 is located in a light well 20of the copying station 2.

After the color negative paper 29 is exposed, the paper passes throughseveral chemical treatment baths 16 and is subsequently dried in a dryer17. The finished and cut paper prints exit the minilab at an output andcollection unit 18.

Located inside the copying station 2 is an exposure station 25 foroutputting electronic imaging signals. The exposure station includes adisplay element consisting of a liquid crystal display (LCD) 26. Theexposure station is pivotally supported inside the copying station 2 andcan be moved back and forth between an exposure position that isparallel to a plane of the paper stage 13, and a rest position in whichthe LCD 26 is perpendicularly tilted away from the paper stage 13 andoutside the illumination beam path. In FIG. 1, the rest position isindicated with dashed lines and the exposure position with solid lines.

In the exposure position, the liquid crystal display 26 is position soclose to the paper stage 13 and the photographic paper 29, respectively,that images which are displayed on the liquid crystal display can beexposed in sharp focus on the photographic paper 29 without the need foradditional intervening optical imaging components. The imaging signalscan be acquired either with the scanner 28 that is integrated with theminilab, or with an external scanner. The imaging signals can also besupplied by other image sources, such as a photo CD, a floppy disk orcan be obtained from other computers via an external data network. Inparticular, the imaging signals can be supplied by a so-called indexprint composer that assembles all individual images of a photographicfilm into a common index print, together with corresponding information,such as text, logos and the like.

Before or during the time the images are exposed through the liquidcrystal display 26 on the photographic paper 29, an operator can observethe images on a monitor 30. The images displayed on the monitor areproduced by special electronic image processing means so that theresulting image resembles as closely as possible the final imageproduced on the photographic paper 29. In the present embodiment, theimage displayed on liquid crystal display 26 is illuminated by theilluminator 11, with a beam of light passing through the objective 21 insuch a way that the desired image is produced on the photographic paper29.

FIG. 2 illustrates a copying station for copying photographic films 24and for outputting electronic imaging signals via the exposure station25. To copy the photographic films 24 in a conventional manner, theliquid crystal exposure station 25 is tilted upwards along the directionA into a position shown with dashed lines. For outputting electronicimaging signals, the exposure station 25 is tilted into the lowerposition shown as solid lines. In the latter case, no photographic film24 is inserted. Instead, the film 24 is pulled out of the copyingstation in the direction D.

The illuminator 11 of the copying station includes a halogen lamp 31, afilter arrangement including a yellow filter 32, a magenta filter 33 anda cyan filter 34 which can be tilted along a direction C in and out ofthe beam path of the light emitted by lamp 31 by separately actuatablerotating magnets 35, 36 and 37. A scattering disk 38 that can be tiltedalong a direction B, is positioned below the color filters 32, 33, 34.The scattering disk causes the angular distribution of the light tospread, i.e. the light to become softer. The scattering disk can betilted automatically with the drive motor 46. An additional thinscattering foil 39 which is permanently installed in the illuminatingwell of the illuminator 11, is located below the scattering disk 38. Thescattering foil 39 spreads the light somewhat less than the scatteringdisk 38.

A zoom objective 21 is designed so as to provide in the plane of thecopying paper 29 a sharp image of the pixels that are located in theplane of an inserted film 24. A predetermined exposure time is preciselymaintained for each particular color print and each of the color filters32, 33, 34. The shutter 51 prevents external light from entering thelight well 20 before and after the exposure, in particular when thephotographic paper is advanced.

The exposure station 25 can be tilted along the direction A inside theillumination well 47 with a drive or a DC motor. The exposure station 25is mounted via a swivel arm 43 and a pivot axis 44 that is affixed tothe housing 48 of the copying station 2. A mounting plate 41 to which aframe 45 for the liquid crystal display 26 and the test negative 27 isattached, is rigidly secured to the swivel arm 43. A flexiblelight-tight end piece 50 is secured to the side of it mounting plate 41adjacent to the beveled side 54 of the housing 48. The end piece 50 canbe bent around the edge 67 of the mounting plate 41.

The frame 45 and the mounting plate 41 also light-tight. The frame 45together with the mounting plate 41 form a mask for the liquid crystaldisplay 26. The mounting plate 41 is a movable exposure stage.

The transmission of the liquid crystal display 26 can be controlledpixel by pixel via a ribbon cable. The liquid crystal display 26 has anactive area of approximately 118×89 mm and a resolution of 1024×768pixels and can be modulated to provide a contrast ratio of 1:150 in 256gray levels (8 bit). The optimal contrast ratio is obtained byilluminating the liquid crystal display with parallel light having anangle of 5° with respect to the surface normal of the display.

The liquid crystal display 26 is illuminated with the light source 31through the zoom objective 21. In this embodiment, the illuminationdeviates from an ideal parallel light bundle and is conical, i.e. thesurface area of the liquid crystal display is illuminated with differentirradiation angles.

The copying station 2 can be operated in two operation modes: in aconventional copying mode and in a mode to output electronic imagingsignals.

In the conventional copying mode, a developed photographic film 24 isinserted in the copying station 2 and advanced in the direction D. Eachcopying master 49 of the film 24 is scanned pixel by pixel with anoptoelectronic scanner 28. The scanner 28 can be a charge-coupled device(CCD) or an arrangement of diodes. Color filters can be inserted asrequired. The scanner 28 scans each image master in three primarycolors. Light intensities for the copying process are calculated fromthe scanned signals, the image master is positioned on the copying stage12 and copied on the photographic paper 29 at three exposure times,possibly of different duration, with the three color filters 32, 33, 34inserted. During the copying process, the ground glass disk 38 ispivoted into the illumination beam path, providing a relatively diffuse,i.e. a sofi copying light. During the standard copying process, theexposure device 29 is tilted to the side and moved out of the beam path,as shown in FIG. 2 with dashed lines. Each image master can then bereadily copied on the photographic paper 29. The flexible end piece 50of the mounting plate 41 is bent around the edge 67 and is flush withthe lateral bounds 68 of the light well 20 and the housing 48,respectively.

Some print orders may request an index print from the developed film. Inthis case, the imaging signals of each image master 49 that are producedby the scanner 28, are stored in a temporary memory. After all imagemasters 49 of the film 24 are scanned, additional information, such asthe number of the images, additional text and the like, are added to theimaging signals. The additional information can also beopto-electronically scanned from the film, read from a magnetic layerdisposed on the film or can be provided by another source ofinformation. The electronically composed index picture is then exposedonto the photographic paper 29 after the individual images of the imagemaster 49 have been exposed. The exposure device 25 is here moved intothe position indicated with the solid lines in FIG. 2. The scatteringdisk 38 in the illumination well 47, on the other hand, is rotatedupwards, i.e. into an area outside the beam path. The image is exposedsequentially in three steps, with the liquid crystal display 26displaying respective partial images in black and white: first, only theblue partial image of the index print is displayed on the liquid crystaldisplay 26. This image is exposed with blue light by tilting the yellowfilters 32 out of the beam path, while the filters 33 and 34 remaininserted in the beam path.

After the blue exposure, the LCD displays the green partial image whichis exposed with green light. Finally, the red partial image is displayedon the LCD and exposed with red light.

It has been found that an imaging surface area on the liquid crystaldisplay of at least 50×40 mm is advantageous for producing sufficientlylarge index prints of good quality. A surface area of 118 mm×89 mm ispreferred. With copying paper 29 coming in widths of 3.5″, 4″, 5″ and6″, the total length of the photographic film 24 used to produce theindex prints is advantageously subdivided into two classes. In a firstclass (e.g. a film format 135 with up to 28 pictures), index prints canbe produced with the liquid crystal display 26 in a single exposure.Longer films with more pictures, however, have to be exposed in twoexposure operations. The index print is then subdivided into twohalf-images that are sequentially copied on the copying paper 29, withan intervening paper transport step in the direction G transversely to alateral side of the image. This generates index prints with an areatwice as large as the display area of the liquid crystal display 26. Thenumber of pictures on the film 24 and/or the format of the picture thatis to be produced, will determine if a picture on the paper 29 isproduced in one or two exposure operations. This applies to index printsas well as to the output of individual images provided in electronicform.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through FIG. 2 along the line III—III. Theilluminator is shown in the two positions outside and inside the lightbeam path. In the second position, i.e. inside the beam path, the liquidcrystal display 26 is in almost direct contact with the photographicpaper 29, separated by a distance d of only 5 mm. The LCD 26 and thephotographic paper 29 can also be separated by a greater distance, e.g.by 6, 7, 8 and even 10 mm or may also be in direct contact with eachother. To prevent the paper 29 from being scratched when the paper isadvanced, the LCD 26 will have to be temporarily raised. The distance d,however, should not be too large, because otherwise the picture producedon the photographic paper 20 by the LCD 26 would become blurred. The LCD26 is illuminated by the halogen lamp 31 through the zoom objective 21and the filters 32, 33, 34 and the scattering foil 39. The exit pupil 52of the objective 22 is located at a distance e of approximately 420 mmabove the plane of the copying paper 29.

Ideally, the liquid crystal display 26 is illuminated with parallellight. In the present embodiment, however, the illumination is differentfrom the ideal situation. The liquid crystal display is illuminated witha conical light bundle whose irradiation angle varies locally across thearea of the liquid crystal display 26.

FIG. 4 shows the optical features of the arrangement of FIG. 2. Theobjective 21 causes the liquid crystal display 26 to be illuminated withapproximately conical light. The center 57 of the liquid crystal display26 is shifted to the left relative to the optical axis 55 by a distancef. The light then irradiates the center 57 of the liquid crystal display26 at an angle α=5°. The contrast ratio that can be achieved by theimages displayed on the LCD 26, is therefore maximal in the center ofthe LCD 26 and decreases slightly towards the edges. The axis 56represents the mid-perpendicular of the liquid crystal display 26. Thedivergent beam path and the separation d between liquid crystal display26 and the photographic paper 29 causes each pixel 53 that is displayedon the display 26, to be exposed slightly enlarged on the photographicpaper 29. This divergence is advantageous for exposing image areas witha high optical density since the pixels exposed on the paper thenoverlap slightly. The divergence angle β depends on the size of the exitpupil 52 of the objective 22 and on the distance between the exit pupil52 and the display 26. By displacing several elements of the zoomobjective 21 along the direction E, the divergence angle β of thearrangement described above can be varied over a range betweenapproximately 1 and 2°. The zoom objective 21 of the photographiccopying device described above can be used in two different ways: on onehand, in a standard copying process to provide different magnificationand, on the other hand, to adjust the divergence of the illuminatinglight when outputting electronic imaging signals with the display device26.

FIG. 5 illustrates details of the illuminator 25. The illuminator 25 ofthis embodiment is particularly suited for application in a photographiccopying apparatus. In front of the mask 45 of the illuminating device25, there is positioned in addition to the display device 26 a testnegative 27 which is supported by a frame 58. The test negative 27 isused to calibrate the copying settings of the photographic copyingapparatus. The test negative 27 is copied on the photographic material29 by a contact copying process. The copied image is subsequentlyphotochemically developed and densitometrically measured.

To move the test negative 27 into a copying position of the photographiccopying apparatus from a test mode, the test negative is activelyrotated with the swivel arm 69 downwardly towards the paper 29 andsimultaneously displaced linearly along the optical axis 55 in thedirection F. The two motions can be carried out synchronously with asingle drive using a suitable guide mechanism. In other words, acombined rotation-translation motion is executed. FIG. 5 shows the restposition of negative 27 after the test negative is passively guided(left side, solid lines), as well as the position of the negative in thetest mode (right side, dotted lines) after the test negative is activelyrotated.

In the test exposure mode, the test negative 27 is positioned proximateto the optical axis 55. In this mode, the LCD 26 is rotated out of theillumination beam path so as not to obstruct the illumination of thetest negative 27.

In the rest position attained by passive guiding, the test negative 27is positioned below the mounting plate 41 so as not to interfere with aLCD exposure. For this purpose, the mounting plate 41 illustrated inFIG. 2 has a raised portion 82 adapted to receive the test negative 27in the rest position.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of important electronic components of theentire apparatus. The components are connected to each other via acentral data line 59 (Bus). A central computing and control unit 80(CPU) controls the process flow. The imaging signals produced by thescanner 28 or obtained from external image sources are stored in amemory 61 (MEM). A control card 66 controls all actuators, such asrotating magnets, stepper and DC motors for positioning, in particularrotating and translating the components. Data can be inputted andoutputted via an input/output interface 62 from a disk drive 63, anetwork card 64, a photo CD, a keyboard, and mouse, external scanners,and the like.

The imaging signals are modified for controlling the liquid crystaldisplay 26. This modification can be implemented via stored lookuptables and the central computing stage 60 or—as illustrated in FIG. 6—byway of serially connected pipeline image processing components 70. Asshown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the imaging signals aremodified first by a lookup table 71 and then by a contrast modificationstage 72. The role of these two components will be discussed in thefollowing with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7a shows measured relative intensities I of light having differentcolors and transmitted through the liquid crystal display 26. Thedisplay is controlled by imaging signals S having digitized valuesbetween 0 and 255. Curve 73 represents the intensity of red light whenthe cyan filter 34 is rotated out of the copying beam path. Curve 74shows the transmitted green light intensity when the magenta filter 33is rotated out, and curve 75 shows the respective intensity of the bluelight when the yellow filter 32 is rotated out. It can be seen from thecharacteristic transmission curves 73, 74 and 75 that the liquid crystaldisplay 26 has a non-linear characteristics. The image processingcomponents described above are adapted to equalize these non-linear LCDcurves, i.e. to represent the input signals S of the LCD display as alinear function on a logarithmic intensity scale. The lookup tables(LUT) of the image processing stage 71 therefore include separate tablefunctions for each spectral range that are the inverse of thecharacteristic curves 73, 74, 75.

FIG. 7b illustrates the effect of the image processing stage 71. Themathematical condition for the lookup tables stored in the stage 71 is:

L(S)=f ⁻¹(g(S)),

wherein L is the function stored in the lookup table, g is a desired—inparticular linear—density curve of the display 26 and f is thecharacteristic curve of display 26 determined according to FIG. 7a. Theimaging signals of the LCD 26 according to the curves 76 for cyan, 77for magenta and 78 for yellow can be represented by linear functionsafter multiplication with the respective lookup tables received fromsystem bus 59.

The imaging signals are modified further inside the image processingstage 17 to adapt the imaging signals to a predetermined recordingmaterial 29. The signals are matched with the respective densitycharacteristics of the recording material. The imaging signals can alsobe converted from negative to positive and vice versa.

FIG. 8 shows different intensity curves that can be measured at thecenter of the image (curve 81), at the left edge of the display 26(curve 80) and at the right edge of the image (curve 79) with anarrangement according to FIG. 2. The condition stated with reference toFIG. 4, i.e. that ideally the light irradiates the liquid crystaldisplay 26 at an angle of exactly 5°, is therefore only satisfied whenthe image is produced according to curve 81. Consequently, the contrastto the center of the image is greater than at the edges of the image.

To even out contrast variations, different sections, in particulardifferent rows or different columns, of the display 26 are controlleddifferently when exposed with the image processing stage 17 shown inFIG. 6. This is accomplished by the contrast stage 72 which modifies theimaging signals depending on the position of the pixels relative to theimage center and thus increases or decreases the contrast. The stage 72therefore has the effect of providing a uniform contrast across theentire image area of the display 26.

The invention has been described with respect to several embodiments, inparticular with reference to an integrated application in a photographicminilab device. However, in particular the exposure device 25 can alsobe used in combination with other devices or alone to output electronicimaging signals. The described photographic color negative paper can, ofcourse, be replaced with other light-sensitive recording materials, suchas color positive paper or a transparent light-sensitive material or alight-sensitive printing plate. A transmissive solid-state display, forexample a display based on PLZT crystals or a so-called light valvearrangement, or a micro-shutter arrangement, can also be used instead ofthe liquid crystal display, as long as the size and resolution of therespective display elements is suitable for the desired application.These different embodiments are known to those skilled in the art. In aconfiguration for contact exposure, the area display elements can alsobe replaced by linear display elements, wherein two-dimensional imagesare produced by exposing and simultaneously advancing the recordingmaterial row by row. Thus, while there have been shown and described andpointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to apreferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that variousomissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of thedevices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of thoseelements and/or method steps which perform substantially the samefunction in substantially the same way to achieve the same results arewithin the scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from onedescribed embodiment to another are also fully intended andcontemplated. It is also to be understood that the drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale but that they are merely conceptual innature. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicatedby the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for output of electronic imagingsignals on a light-sensitive recording material (29) in a photographiccopying apparatus (2) adapted for copying an image master (49) of aphotographic film (24) on light-sensitive recording material (29),comprising the steps of (a) controlling a transmissive display element(26) by the imaging signals; (b) passing a beam of light from a lightsource (31) first through an objective (21) and then through the displayelement (26) in the direction of the light-sensitive recording material(29); (c) upon obtaining the image output, positioning the displayelement (26) adjacent to the recording material (29) that a sharp imageis produced on the recording material (29), without necessitatingpositioning an optical focusing means between the display element (26)and the recording material (29); (d) upon obtaining the imaging signalsoutput, movably positioning the display element (26) in the same opticalbeam path in which an image master (49) is also positioned during thecopying operation of the image master; wherein the electronic imagingsignals includes image information comprised in the image master (49)that can be copied with the photographic copying apparatus (2), andusing the light source (31) to irradiate the image master (49) in thedirection of the light-sensitive recording material (29).
 2. A processfor output of electronic imaging signals on a light-sensitive recordingmaterial (29) in a photographic copying apparatus (2) adapted forcopying an image master (49) of a photographic film (24) onlight-sensitive recording material (29), comprising the steps of (a)controlling a transmissive display element (26) by the imaging signals;(b) passing a beam of light from a light source (31) through the displayelement (26) in the direction of the light-sensitive recording material(29); (c) upon obtaining the image output, positioning the displayelement (26) adjacent to the recording material (29) that a sharp imageis produced on the recording material (29), without necessitatingpositioning an optical focusing means between the display element (26)and the recording material (29); (d) upon obtaining the imaging signalsoutput positioning the display element (26) in the same optical beampath in which an image master (49) is also positioned during the copyingoperation of the image master; wherein the electronic imaging signalsincludes image information comprised in the image master (49) that canbe copied with the photographic copying apparatus (2), and using thelight source (31) to irradiate the image master (49) in the direction ofthe light-sensitive recording material (29); and tilting the displayelements (26) into a illuminating position for providing the output ofthe image.
 3. The process according to claim 2, further comprising thestep of illuminating the display element (26) by a white light source(29) and further illuminating sequentially for a set time with threeprimary colors by interposing optical filters (32, 33, 34).
 4. Theprocess according to claim 3, further comprising the step of providingan index image wherein a predetermined number of image masters of aphotographic film (10, 24) is provides by output in a predeterminedarrangement.
 5. The process according to claim 4, wherein, depending onthe number and/or the format of the index image to be produced, theindex image is produced at least in one exposure operation, and whereinin the event of several exposure operations, the recording material istransported transversely to a lateral side of the image between theexposure operations in such that the two exposure operations do notoverlap at all or overlap only in a predetermined area of the recordingmaterial.
 6. An apparatus for output of electronic imaging signals on alight-sensitive recording material (29) in a photographic copyingapparatus (2) adapted for copying an image master (49) of a photographicfilm (24) on light-sensitive recording material (29), comprising atwo-dimensional transmissive display element (26), that can becontrolled by the imaging signals; and a light source (31) forirradiating the display element (26) through an objective in thedirection of the recording material (29), wherein when an output for theimage is provided, the display element (26) is positioned adjacent tothe recording material (29) so that a sharp image is produced on therecording material (29), without positioning focusing optical meansbetween the display element (26) and the recording material (29), andwhen an output for the imaging signals is provided, the display element(26) can be movably positioned in the same optical beam path in which animage master (49) is positioned when the image master is copied, whereinthe electronic imaging signals comprise image information comprised inthe image master (49) that can be copied with the photographic copyingapparatus (2), and the light source (31) for irradiating the displayelement (26) is arranged in such a way that the light source (31) canalso be used to illuminate the image master (49).
 7. An apparatus foroutput of electronic imaging signals on a light-sensitive recordingmaterial (29) in a photographic copying apparatus (2) adapted forcopying an image master (49) of a photographic film (24) onlight-sensitive recording material (29), comprising a two-dimensionaltransmissive display element (26), that can be controlled by the imagingsignals; and a light source (31) for irradiating the display element(26) in the direction of the recording material (29), wherein when anoutput for the image is provided the display element (26) is positionedadjacent to the recording material (29) so that a sharp image isproduced on the recording material (29), without positioning focusingoptical means between the display element (26) and the recordingmaterial (29), and when an output for the imaging signals is provided,the display element (26) can be positioned in the same optical beam pathin which an image master (49) is positioned when the image master iscopied, wherein the electronic imaging signals comprise imageinformation comprised in the image master (49) that can be copied withthe photographic copying apparatus (2), and the light source (31) forirradiating the display element (26) is arranged in such a way that thelight source (31) can also be used to illuminate the image master (49);and comprising a tilting device (40, 43, 44) for moving the displayelement (26) into an exposure position.
 8. The device according to claim7, wherein the tilting means (40, 43, 44) comprise a drive motor (40)and a light blocking plate (41).
 9. The device according to claim 8,further comprising a transmissive test image (27).
 10. The deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein the test image (27) is secured to a holder(69) which is tiltable together with a plate (41) between a positionoutside a direct beam path of a light source (31) and a rest positionwithin the beam path, as well as tiltable by a combinedrotation-translation motion, between the position outside the beam pathand a copying position within the beam path, in which copying positionthe test image (27) can be copied to the recording material (29). 11.The device according to claim 10, wherein the display element (26) hasdimensions of at least 50×40 mm and a resolution of at least 500×300pixels.
 12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the displayelement (26) is secured in a wraparound, light blocking frame (45). 13.A photographic copying apparatus, comprising an exposure device (25) foroutput of electronic imaging signals on a light-sensitive recordingmaterial (29) in a photographic copying apparatus (2) adapted forcopying an image master (49) of a photographic film (24) onlight-sensitive recording material (29), comprising a two-dimensionaltransmissive display element (26), being controlled by the imagingsignals; and a light source (31) for irradiating the display element(26) through an objective in the direction of the recording material(29), wherein when an output for the image is provided, the displayelement (26) being movably positioned adjacent to the recording material(29) that a sharp image is produced on the recording material (29),without positioning focusing optical means between the display element(26) and the recording material (29), and when an output for the imagingsignals is provided, the display element (26) can be positioned in thesame optical beam path in which an image master (49) is positioned whenthe image master is copied, wherein the electronic imaging signalscomprise image information comprised in the image master (49) that canbe copied with the photographic copying apparatus (2), and the lightsource (31) for irradiating the display element (26) is arranged in sucha way that the light source (31) can also be used to illuminate theimage master (49).
 14. The photographic copying apparatus according toclaim 13, further comprising a) the objective (22) being disposedbetween a stage (12) adapted to receive a copy master (24), and therecording material (29); b) a scattering foil (39) disposed between thelight source (31) and the zoom objective (2); and c) the light source(31), the zoom objective (22) and the display element (26) beingadjusted relative to each other such that the position and the size ofthe exit pupil (52) of the objective (22) results in a divergentillumination of the display element (26) with a predetermined divergenceangle.
 15. A photographic copying apparatus, comprising an exposuredevice (25) for output of electronic imaging signals on alight-sensitive recording material (29) in a photographic copyingapparatus (2) adapted for copying an image master (49) of a photographicfilm (24) on light-sensitive recording material (29), comprising atwo-dimensional transmissive display element (26), being controlled bythe imaging signals; and a light source (31) for irradiating the displayelement (26) in the direction of the recording material (29), whereinwhen an output for the image is provided, the display element (26) canbe positioned so close to the recording material (29) that a sharp imageis produced on the recording material (29), without positioning focusingoptical means between the display element (26) and the recordingmaterial (29), and when an output for the imaging signals is provided,the display element (26) being positioned in the same optical beam pathin which an image master (49) is positioned when the image master iscopied, wherein the electronic imaging signals comprise imageinformation comprised in the image master (49) that are copied with thephotographic coping apparatus (2), and the light source (31) forirradiating the display element (26) is arranged such that the lightsource (31) are also be used to illuminate the image master (49), and azoom objective (22) being disposed between a stage (12) adapted toreceive a copy master (24) and the recording material (29); a scatteringfoil (39) disposed between the light source (31) and the zoom objective(2); the light source (31), the objective (22) and the display element(26) being adjusted to each other such that the position and the size ofthe exit pupil (52) of the objective (22) results in a divergentillumination of the display element (26) with a predetermined divergenceangle; and wherein the display element (26) is displaced laterallyrelative to the optical axis extending through the light source (31) andthe zoom objective (22).
 16. The device according to claim 10, whereinthe display element (26) has dimensions of 118×89 mm and a resolution of1024×768 pixels.